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Selected Verse: Isaiah 13:21 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 13:21	Strong Concordance	But wild beasts of the desert [06728] shall lie [07257] there; and their houses [01004] shall be full [04390] of doleful creatures [0255]; and owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [07931] there, and satyrs [08163] shall dance [07540] there.
	King James	But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
wild beasts--Hebrew, tsiyim, animals dwelling in arid wastes. Wild cats, remarkable for their howl [BOCHART]. doleful creatures--"howling beasts," literally, "howlings" [MAURER]. owls--rather, "ostriches"; a timorous creature, delighting in solitary deserts and making a hideous noise [BOCHART]. satyrs--sylvan demi-gods--half man, half goat--believed by the Arabs to haunt these ruins; probably animals of the goat-ape species [VITRINGA]. Devil-worshippers, who dance amid the ruins on a certain night [J. WOLFF].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

wild beasts--Hebrew, tsiyim, animals dwelling in arid wastes. Wild cats, remarkable for their howl [BOCHART].

doleful creatures--"howling beasts," literally, "howlings" [MAURER].

owls--rather, "ostriches"; a timorous creature, delighting in solitary deserts and making a hideous noise [BOCHART].

satyrs--sylvan demi-gods--half man, half goat--believed by the Arabs to haunt these ruins; probably animals of the goat-ape species [VITRINGA]. Devil-worshippers, who dance amid the ruins on a certain night [J. WOLFF].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there - Hebrew, (ציים tsı̂yı̂ym). This word denotes properly those animals that dwell in dry and desolate places, from צי tsı̂y "a waste, a desert." The ancient versions have differed considerably in the interpretation. The Septuagint in different places renders it, Θηριά Thēria - 'Wild animals;' or δαιμόνια daimonia - 'Demons.' The Syriac, 'Wild animals, spirits, sirens.' Vulgate, 'Beasts, demons, dragons.' Abarbanel renders it, 'Apes.' This word is applied to people, in Psa 72:9; Psa 74:14; to animals, Isa 23:13; Isa 34:14; Jer 50:39. Bochart supposes that wild cats or catamounts are here intended. He has proved that they abound in eastern countries. They feed upon dead carcasses, and live in the woods, or in desert places, and are remarkable for their howl. Their yell resembles that of infants. ("See" Bochart's "Hieroz." i. 3. 14. pp. 860-862.) And their houses shall be full of doleful creatures - Margin, 'Ochim,' or 'Ostriches.' אחים 'ochı̂ym. The Septuagint renders this 'Clamours,' or 'Howlings,' without supposing that it refers to any particular animals. The Hebrew word is found nowhere else. Bochart supposes that the yell or howl of wild animals is intended, and not animals themselves ("Hieroz." i. 3. 15). And owls shall dwell there - Hebrew, 'Daughters of the owl or ostrich.' The owl is a well-known bird that dwells only in obscure and dark retreats, giving a doleful screech, and seeking its food only at night. It is not certain, however, that the owl is intended here. The Septuagint renders it, Σειρῆνες Seirēnes - 'Sirens.' The Chaldee, 'The daughter of the ostrich.' Bochart has gone into an extended argument to prove that the ostrich is intended here ("Hieroz." xi. 2. 14). The Hebrew does not particularly denote the kind of bird intended, but means those that are distinguished for their sound - 'the daughters of sound or clamor.' 'The ostrich is a sly and timorous creature, delighting in solitary barren deserts. In the night they frequently make a very doleful and hideous noise; sometimes groaning as if they were in the greatest agonies.' (Shaw's "Travels," vol. ii. p. 348, 8vo; Taylor's "Heb. Con.;" see Job 30:29; Isa 34:13; Isa 43:20; Jer 50:39; Mic 1:8; Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15; Lam 4:3.) The word does not elsewhere occur. And satyrs shall dance there - (שׂערים s'e‛ı̂rı̂ym). A "satyr," in mythology, was a sylvan deity or demigod, represented as a monster, half man and half goat, having horns on his head, a hairy body, with the feet and tail of a goat (Webster). The word used here properly denotes that which is "hairy," or "rough," and is applied to "goats" in Gen 25:25; Psa 68:21; Lev 13:10, Lev 13:25-26, Lev 13:30, Lev 13:32. It is often rendered "hair." ("see" Taylor). In Isa 34:14, it is rendered 'satyr;' in Deu 32:2, it is rendered 'the small ram;' in Lev 17:7, and Ch2 11:15, it is rendered 'the devils,' meaning objects of worship, or idols. Bochart supposes that it refers to the idols that were worshipped among the Egyptians, who placed "goats" among their gods. Doderlin supposes that it means either "fawns," or a species of the monkey tribe, resembling in their rough and shaggy appearance the wild goat. They are here represented as 'dancing;' and in Isa 34:14, as 'crying to each other.' It is evident that the prophet intends animals of a rough and shaggy appearance; such as are quick and nimble in their motions; such as dwell in deserts, in forests, or in old ruins; and such as answer to each other, or chatter. The description would certainly seem more applicable to some of the "simia" or monkey tribe than to any other animals. It is "possible," indeed, that he means merely to make use of language that was well known, as describing animals that the ancients "supposed" had an existence, but which really had not, as the imaginary beings called satyrs. But it is possible, also, that he means simply wild goats (compare Bochart's "Hieroz." xi. 6. 7). The Septuagint renders it Δαιμόνια Daimonia - 'Demons, or devils.' The Vulgate, Pilosi - 'Shaggy, or hairy animals.' The Chaldee, 'Demons.' The essential idea is, that such wild animals as are supposed to dwell in wastes and ruins, would hold their revels in the forsaken and desolate palaces of Babylon. The following remarks of Joseph Wolff may throw light on this passage: 'I then went to the mountain of Sanjaar, which was full of Yezeedes. One hundred and fifty years ago, they believed in the glorious doctrine of the Trinity, and worshipped the true God; but being severely persecuted by the neighboring Yezeedes, they have now joined them, and are worshippers of the devil. These people frequent the ruins of Babylon, and dance around them. On a certain night, which they call the Night of Life, they hold their dances around the desolate ruins, in honor of the devil. The passage which declares that "satyrs shall dance there," evidently has respect to this very practice. The original word translated "satyr," literally means, according to the testimony of the most eminent Jewish rabbis, "devil worshippers."' 'It is a curious circumstance,' says Mr. Rich, in his "Memoir on the Ruins of Babylon," p. 30, in describing the Mujelibe, 'that here I first heard the oriental account of satyrs. I had always imagined the belief of their existence was confined to the mythology of the west; but a Choadar who was with me when I examined this ruin, mentioned by accident, that in this desert an animal is found resembling a man from the head to the waist, but having the thighs and legs of a sheep or a goat; he said also that the Arabs hunt it with dogs, and eat the lower parts, abstaining from the upper on account of their resemblance to the human species.' 'The Arabians call them Sied-as-sad, and say that they abound in some woody places near Semava on the Euphrates.'

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there - Hebrew, (ציים tsı̂yı̂ym). This word denotes properly those animals that dwell in dry and desolate places, from צי tsı̂y "a waste, a desert." The ancient versions have differed considerably in the interpretation. The Septuagint in different places renders it, Θηριά Thēria - 'Wild animals;' or δαιμόνια daimonia - 'Demons.' The Syriac, 'Wild animals, spirits, sirens.' Vulgate, 'Beasts, demons, dragons.' Abarbanel renders it, 'Apes.' This word is applied to people, in Psa 72:9; Psa 74:14; to animals, Isa 23:13; Isa 34:14; Jer 50:39. Bochart supposes that wild cats or catamounts are here intended. He has proved that they abound in eastern countries. They feed upon dead carcasses, and live in the woods, or in desert places, and are remarkable for their howl. Their yell resembles that of infants. ("See" Bochart's "Hieroz." i. 3. 14. pp. 860-862.)

And their houses shall be full of doleful creatures - Margin, 'Ochim,' or 'Ostriches.' אחים 'ochı̂ym. The Septuagint renders this 'Clamours,' or 'Howlings,' without supposing that it refers to any particular animals. The Hebrew word is found nowhere else. Bochart supposes that the yell or howl of wild animals is intended, and not animals themselves ("Hieroz." i. 3. 15).

And owls shall dwell there - Hebrew, 'Daughters of the owl or ostrich.' The owl is a well-known bird that dwells only in obscure and dark retreats, giving a doleful screech, and seeking its food only at night. It is not certain, however, that the owl is intended here. The Septuagint renders it, Σειρῆνες Seirēnes - 'Sirens.' The Chaldee, 'The daughter of the ostrich.' Bochart has gone into an extended argument to prove that the ostrich is intended here ("Hieroz." xi. 2. 14). The Hebrew does not particularly denote the kind of bird intended, but means those that are distinguished for their sound - 'the daughters of sound or clamor.' 'The ostrich is a sly and timorous creature, delighting in solitary barren deserts. In the night they frequently make a very doleful and hideous noise; sometimes groaning as if they were in the greatest agonies.' (Shaw's "Travels," vol. ii. p. 348, 8vo; Taylor's "Heb. Con.;" see Job 30:29; Isa 34:13; Isa 43:20; Jer 50:39; Mic 1:8; Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15; Lam 4:3.) The word does not elsewhere occur.

And satyrs shall dance there - (שׂערים s'e‛ı̂rı̂ym). A "satyr," in mythology, was a sylvan deity or demigod, represented as a monster, half man and half goat, having horns on his head, a hairy body, with the feet and tail of a goat (Webster). The word used here properly denotes that which is "hairy," or "rough," and is applied to "goats" in Gen 25:25; Psa 68:21; Lev 13:10, Lev 13:25-26, Lev 13:30, Lev 13:32. It is often rendered "hair." ("see" Taylor). In Isa 34:14, it is rendered 'satyr;' in Deu 32:2, it is rendered 'the small ram;' in Lev 17:7, and Ch2 11:15, it is rendered 'the devils,' meaning objects of worship, or idols. Bochart supposes that it refers to the idols that were worshipped among the Egyptians, who placed "goats" among their gods. Doderlin supposes that it means either "fawns," or a species of the monkey tribe, resembling in their rough and shaggy appearance the wild goat.

They are here represented as 'dancing;' and in Isa 34:14, as 'crying to each other.' It is evident that the prophet intends animals of a rough and shaggy appearance; such as are quick and nimble in their motions; such as dwell in deserts, in forests, or in old ruins; and such as answer to each other, or chatter. The description would certainly seem more applicable to some of the "simia" or monkey tribe than to any other animals. It is "possible," indeed, that he means merely to make use of language that was well known, as describing animals that the ancients "supposed" had an existence, but which really had not, as the imaginary beings called satyrs. But it is possible, also, that he means simply wild goats (compare Bochart's "Hieroz." xi. 6. 7). The Septuagint renders it Δαιμόνια Daimonia - 'Demons, or devils.' The Vulgate, Pilosi - 'Shaggy, or hairy animals.' The Chaldee, 'Demons.' The essential idea is, that such wild animals as are supposed to dwell in wastes and ruins, would hold their revels in the forsaken and desolate palaces of Babylon. The following remarks of Joseph Wolff may throw light on this passage: 'I then went to the mountain of Sanjaar, which was full of Yezeedes. One hundred and fifty years ago, they believed in the glorious doctrine of the Trinity, and worshipped the true God; but being severely persecuted by the neighboring Yezeedes, they have now joined them, and are worshippers of the devil.

These people frequent the ruins of Babylon, and dance around them. On a certain night, which they call the Night of Life, they hold their dances around the desolate ruins, in honor of the devil. The passage which declares that "satyrs shall dance there," evidently has respect to this very practice. The original word translated "satyr," literally means, according to the testimony of the most eminent Jewish rabbis, "devil worshippers."' 'It is a curious circumstance,' says Mr. Rich, in his "Memoir on the Ruins of Babylon," p. 30, in describing the Mujelibe, 'that here I first heard the oriental account of satyrs. I had always imagined the belief of their existence was confined to the mythology of the west; but a Choadar who was with me when I examined this ruin, mentioned by accident, that in this desert an animal is found resembling a man from the head to the waist, but having the thighs and legs of a sheep or a goat; he said also that the Arabs hunt it with dogs, and eat the lower parts, abstaining from the upper on account of their resemblance to the human species.' 'The Arabians call them Sied-as-sad, and say that they abound in some woody places near Semava on the Euphrates.'

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Satyrs - The learned agree, that these are frightful and solitary creatures.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Satyrs - A kind of beast like to man, which is called מרמוטש marmots, a monkey. - Rabbi Parchon.

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¹⁴ The wild beasts of the desert [06728] shall also meet [06298] with the wild beasts of the island [0338], and the satyr [08163] shall cry [07121] to his fellow [07453]; the screech owl [03917] also shall rest [07280] there, and find [04672] for herself a place of rest [04494].

¹⁵ And he ordained [05975] him priests [03548] for the high places [01116], and for the devils [08163], and for the calves [05695] which he had made [06213].

⁷ And they shall no more offer [02076] their sacrifices [02077] unto devils [08163], after [0310] whom they have gone a whoring [02181]. This shall be a statute [02708] for ever [05769] unto them throughout their generations [01755].

² My doctrine [03948] shall drop [06201] as the rain [04306], my speech [0565] shall distil [05140] as the dew [02919], as the small rain [08164] upon the tender herb [01877], and as the showers [07241] upon the grass [06212]:

³² And in the seventh [07637] day [03117] the priest [03548] shall look [07200] on the plague [05061]: and, behold, if the scall [05424] spread [06581] not, and there be in it no yellow [06669] hair [08181], and the scall [05424] be not in sight [04758] deeper [06013] than the skin [05785];

³⁰ Then the priest [03548] shall see [07200] the plague [05061]: and, behold, if it be in sight [04758] deeper [06013] than the skin [05785]; and there be in it a yellow [06669] thin [01851] hair [08181]; then the priest [03548] shall pronounce him unclean [02930]: it is a dry scall [05424], even a leprosy [06883] upon the head [07218] or beard [02206].

²⁵ Then the priest [03548] shall look [07200] upon it: and, behold, if the hair [08181] in the bright spot [0934] be turned [02015] white [03836], and it be in sight [04758] deeper [06013] than the skin [05785]; it is a leprosy [06883] broken [06524] out of the burning [04348]: wherefore the priest [03548] shall pronounce him unclean [02930]: it is the plague [05061] of leprosy [06883].
²⁶ But if the priest [03548] look [07200] on it, and, behold, there be no white [03836] hair [08181] in the bright spot [0934], and it be no lower [08217] than the other skin [05785], but be somewhat dark [03544]; then the priest [03548] shall shut [05462] him up seven [07651] days [03117]:

¹⁰ And the priest [03548] shall see [07200] him: and, behold, if the rising [07613] be white [03836] in the skin [05785], and it have turned [02015] the hair [08181] white [03836], and there be quick [04241] raw [02416] flesh [01320] in the rising [07613];

²¹ But God [0430] shall wound [04272] the head [07218] of his enemies [0341], and the hairy [08181] scalp [06936] of such an one as goeth on still [01980] in his trespasses [0817].

²⁵ And the first [07223] came out [03318] red [0132], all over like an hairy [08181] garment [0155]; and they called [07121] his name [08034] Esau [06215].

³ Even the sea monsters [08577] draw out [02502] the breast [07699], they give suck [03243] to their young ones [01482]: the daughter [01323] of my people [05971] is become cruel [0393], like the ostriches [03283] in the wilderness [04057].

¹⁵ And the owl [01323] [03284], and the night hawk [08464], and the cuckow [07828], and the hawk [05322] after his kind [04327],

¹⁶ And the owl [01323] [03284], and the night hawk [08464], and the cuckow [07828], and the hawk [05322] after his kind [04327],

⁸ Therefore I will wail [05594] and howl [03213], I will go [03212] stripped [07758] [07758] and naked [06174]: I will make [06213] a wailing [04553] like the dragons [08577], and mourning [060] as the owls [01323] [03284].

³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert [06728] with the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall dwell [03427] there, and the owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [03427] therein: and it shall be no more inhabited [03427] for ever [05331]; neither shall it be dwelt [07931] in from generation [01755] to generation [01755].

²⁰ The beast [02416] of the field [07704] shall honour [03513] me, the dragons [08577] and the owls [01323] [03284]: because I give [05414] waters [04325] in the wilderness [04057], and rivers [05104] in the desert [03452], to give drink [08248] to my people [05971], my chosen [0972].

¹³ And thorns [05518] shall come up [05927] in her palaces [0759], nettles [07057] and brambles [02336] in the fortresses [04013] thereof: and it shall be an habitation [05116] of dragons [08577], and a court [02681] for owls [01323] [03284].

²⁹ I am a brother [0251] to dragons [08577], and a companion [07453] to owls [01323] [03284].

¹³ Behold the land [0776] of the Chaldeans [03778]; this people [05971] was not, till the Assyrian [0804] founded [03245] it for them that dwell in the wilderness [06728]: they set up [06965] the towers [0971] thereof, they raised up [06209] the palaces [0759] thereof; and he brought [07760] it to ruin [04654].

¹⁴ Thou brakest [07533] the heads [07218] of leviathan [03882] in pieces, and gavest [05414] him to be meat [03978] to the people [05971] inhabiting the wilderness [06728].

⁹ They that dwell in the wilderness [06728] shall bow [03766] before [06440] him; and his enemies [0341] shall lick [03897] the dust [06083].